Hydraulic brick press



Jan. 3, 1928. I 1,654,761

F. E. STEVENSON HYDRAULIC BRICK PRES 5 Filed Auz. 24, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l Jan, 3, 1928.

1,654,?fi F. E. STEVENSON HYDRAULIC BRICK PRESS Filed Aug. 24, 1925 e sheets sh'eet 2 lmlmllnm nu Jan. s, 1928. 1,654,7fil

F. E. STEVENSON I HYDRAULIC BRICK PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 u) Filed Aug. 24', 1923 Jane 3, 1923.

F. E. STEVENSON HYDRAULIC BRICK, PRESS a Shees-Sheet 4 v wil Filed. Aug. 24. 1923 F. E. STEVENSON HYDRAULIC BRICK PRESS F'iled Anal. 24. 1925 6 s eefs -Shpgi Jan. 3, 192

F. E. STEVENSON HYDRAULIC BRICK PRESS Filed Aus- 24. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented 3, l'lIiZS.

FRANCIS E. STEVENSON, OF MOUNT GILEAD. OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HYDRAULIC PRESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OF MOUNT GILEAD, OHIO.

HYDRAULIC BRlCK PRESS.

Applicatioh filed August 24. 1923. Serial No. 659,188.

"llh invcntion relales to a press for the mainil aclurc'of bricks or bloclcs from a mixture of iihrous lllllll'l'lill such cotton stalks and [he like with cindcrs, the whole being held together by a suitable liindcr. such as usphaltuin. ihcse nuilerials are only illuslralive and not limiting. since man v features of the invention may he used with other materials and for the production of bricks of a dill'ercnl characl'm'.

The supply. mixing and feeding tanks lo nether with the means for controlling the feed of material, are similar to those shown in Patent Lhi'elJT-ihgranterl April 12- 1921 to El. l". Andrews. irlany details are dill'ercut. and there is employed a hydraulic press mechanism instead of the mechanical press inc" device shown in said patent.

'llhere is provided a reciprocating press plunger driven from sources of high and low pressure.

i t right angles to the movement of the areas plan and preferably operated by steam.

in position. the charging device is given a shalting movement.

The pressing tunnel consists of heavy cast iron seetious made tolock together without la and it is lineal with steel plates. The outer end of the tunnelis open and the frici on between the walls of the same and the is sufiicient to provide the proper reto the movement of the bricks and nne the necessaqi pressure. The Walls lhis tunnel, as well as those of the charg- -=levice. have steam and water pipes thereln the tcn'iperature may be controlled an tuerch the resistance to the movement oi the bricks through the tunnel. In this the amount-of pressure applied to can be varied. Thermostats may as desired to'control these pipes The charging mechanism operates Oiher objects of the invention will be apparent from. the following detailed descriplion and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure '1 a side elevation of the press.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the hydraulic mechanism and charging device with portions of the press tunnel and charging tun- -nel in section.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the charging mechanism.

' Figure 8 is a view on the line'8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view on the line 99 of Fig Figure 10 is a view on Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view of a detail.

The press is mounted on a base 1 which the line l 10 of ymay be made of concrete or other suitable material. and of proper size. The various mixing and supply tanks with theirfeeding mechanisms are mounted in a frame supported on the base and comprising vertical members 2 and 3, top cross pieces 4 and intermediate cross pieces 5 and 6. Suitable'braces may he employed as desired but these have been omitted for clearness of illustration.

A shaft 7 is mounted in bearings 8 carried by the top of the frame and a pulley 9 on said shaft is driven by a belt 10 from any desired source of power. A bevel gear 10 onlihe inner end of the shaft 7 meshes with a bevel gear 11 on a vertical shaft 12. Th s shaft has a pinion on its outer end mesning with a gear 14 on a shaft 15 which is provided with a gear 16 meshing with a gourd? on a shaft 18. The gear 17 also meshes with another pinion 19 on a shaft 20. By means of this mechanism, the various shafts which lead to the supply, mixing and feed tanks are driven.

The machine embodies a fibre tank 21, a cinder tank 22, a mixing tank 23 and a feed $211k 24, ail of which are suitably e113) pcrteei from the framework. The fibre storagetank 21 has as steam jecisewgfi anci eke shaft extends into the ten and is P1131 videci near file bettem with a single bladed agite'ior 26. The. cinder tank 22 is much smaller than the fibre tankend is also provied with a steam jacket 2". The shaft he center and is preagi'mior 9 The mixing; tank :23 undeslies beth the fibre is; so that mateiiai may be i sf these tanks into she 13 mixi has a, siemii jacket :29 and ends 'iihrSugh its ceniei'. The

vfled. with mixing arms 30 and ti' s eitaciied to the well.

mi an A this time is preierebiy steam materiel passes which has steam meted bottom. This has a center pereion 33; cylinder which has ato 536p a gear 3% which meshes ninien 35 on use sheik- 12. Arms 36 lrem the cute-1 will of the cylinder acpereie eish ill'ZflS 3T projecting inv K'li the well of the tank. "Ehreugh the cyii-Ader passes Chute 38 through which are r i was plates (see F 3% ch farm sepemiez's ihebricks, e measurwink with i pro- 1 ing mix 41. A

pin s from the measuring box 40 from the measuring box Q1.

being; attached to a shaft veering. 4.5 supporteei on the 1:1 other suitabie 79c iioii of the arm 011 this shaft is a e? to any desired form measuring mechanism 48 he flew of the 110i; binder The shafi L4: has 11 7') "Y p10 -i cstencmp, iii! .1 1.11041 15 ac och the shait as heremaiter set container iimmwerdly tizatefi i0 1::

The feeding tank tem with i-WO ope z U which reciproce-tes a .5 1 and 52 beneath charging device 53 Whisk reeves wand fro a tunnel 54. which is at ri hi enflies to the main )ress ilunnei. (m o re znee FRgLZlEE-E 3, 4 and 8 This cimrghie compartments 56 and 5? that when 'ilhe compartment 56 L 113g Ga .Y in the ieeciing tank, eel-apartment- 5! will be line with file press UDllfii; while when he Cowper-imme- 1m eri'es the (awning in the feeciing 31:11: the cemperimee; .56 will be in line with press itimnel The charging cieviee is meme},

reeipmceted frame a pie-ten red 58 WhiC' h is cennecitec i there n the movement of sins ill tei' being geve'rned as hereinafter set fie iii. At each end the charging device is pi'evided. with a downwardly extenciing lug 59 provided with an acijustaiole set screw 60 :uiapb ed to Contact with. the fran'ie in order that the mci'emen ef the charging device may be exactly regulated.

The press tunnel is icrme i sf twe heavy easbiron sei'riions 6L ind iii made to inter;- lock without the use of boits, and Rivers 553 of steel are employed "which may be rename-cl when. desired and replaced. The the press tunnel may be provided with st am and water pipes whereby she sew tux": cf the Wells of the tunnel may be inked. The out-er end. of H115. priz s is open, and the resistance 01? the i of the bricks thcrefln'engh due ticn with the sides 0% the Luii'nei ii the ameuni presem'e given the mi viousiy the friction varies with pemtuie, and thermostats may be whereby the teinpeieiure can be i; v desired point. The use of theimes'lets to govern the flow of water or steam so were men that it has not been illustrated 011 he drawings. The Willis the (imaging time1 also We provided with. steam and Water PlfOS 65.

1 i Tue piston ei' device is t O mevemet' from as siteem eyiimler 66 1 1 20 wince. steam enivers tei'eugh. a pipe 67 passing ihz'ough waive chamber 68 the "valves e1 which are ccnci'eiied by a, lie 69. Any culinary 01' suit-abie veive mechanism may be empieyed since ii, is only necessary that the movement of the link 6?; will eperate the valve to amii, steam to (me 01 she ether side of the piston head in the cyiindei' 66 and (hereby afford movement of the piston rod 58 in ene or the other (iii'ecticn.

The link 39 connected in e sliciaiaie meme bei" TO to which is adjustabiy cennected one arm 71 of a bell crank piveted at 73 the other iiiln T-i of which is pmvided with EL projection '25. Similarly coimecieei to the member is an arm 76 (if a sece id bell crank piveteii at "[7 whose other arm 78 is prca -sided with a projection it will be noted from Figure 3 that the anus 7'4. and Y8 of ihebail cranks extend tewaici each other from their pivots, s0 thin a rocking of the bell cranks in the same direction will pr0- Ciucc movement of i'he member-70 and iink $9 in opposite directienss-As shewn in Figure 7 the extent (if movement 0;? the member 70 is iimiied-b steps 81}, and, the bell eigenks' may be e to fine member "T8 bysmws and; nuts as iiluetzzited.

A fixed liiember 81 is jpre'viied with a guicieway in Which-"slides a member 82 1 5, 6 and 3 rii'ece'ii {'0' a 1311}; S8

nJStQd with relation which is operated as hereinafter set forth. The member 82 isprovided with a pin 81 on which are pivoted fingers 85 and which slide in cut outs in the tired member 81. Beneath the finger is a vertically slidable pin 87 terminating at its lower end in cars 88 between which is mounted arollcr 89, while beneath the finger 80 is a similar pin 90 provided at its lower end with cars 91 between which is pivoted a roller 92. Springs 93 surround the pins 81' and 90 and bear against the cars 88 and 91 and the tixed member 81 and thus tend to force the pins downwardly.

Mounted to reciprocate with the charging device 53 is .a member 94 to which is se cured by bolts 95 a member 96 carrying various cams. As shown in Figures 5 and (S the rollers 89 and 92 run on a trackway 97 on the member 96 and this has at its ends elevations 98 and 99 with which cooperate the rollers 89 and 92 respectively as. the charging device nears the end of its movement in either direction. As the rollers run up these elevations the pins 87 and 90 are raised and this results in raising the lingers 85 and 86 alternately. As evident from Figures 3 and 5. when the fingers are raised they will pass above the projections 75 and 79 of the hell cranks and not actuate the same. lVhen the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, an operative movcmeat of the link or connecting rod 815 will cause the finger 80 to ei'igage the projection 79 of thehell crank lever and move said lever together with the member 70 and link (it). At the same time the other hell crank will he moved and the projection T5 will approach the finger 85 which however at this time is elevated so that the projection passes under the linger. The rod 83 now returns to normal position and when the nest movement of the member 94: takes place, the linger 85 will be dropped and the lin 2r 80 will be elevated so that on the next movement. of the link 83 the *alve operating link 09 will be given movement in the opposite direction.

The member 90 also. carries a trackwav 100 provided'with a cam elevation 101 near its center. Cooperating therewith is a roller 102 on the end of a lever 1023 piv 'acd at 101 and normally forced upward by a spring 103. Pivoted at 100 to a frame member 105 which may be integral or attached to the member 81 a link 10? the purpose of which will be hereinafter czt'plained. This link terminates in arms 108 and 10!). A spring 110 normally tends to force the arm 108 to the left in Figure but this movement is prevented when the. parts are in the position shown in this ligure by the engagement; of the end of the arm 108 with a notch in the lever 10;). The member 96 also carries a trackway 111 provided with slide valve which in turn shoulders 112 at the ends thereof. When the member 91 is reciprocated until the roller 1.02 rides u the cam 101, the lever 10 will be rocked re *asing the arm 108 of the quent y the charging device to which it is connected, from being moved in the opposite direction until the member 107 is rocked to lift the arm 109 up above the trackway 111, which operation will be hereinafter described.

The pressure rain is operated by a low pressure steam cylinder 11;} connected to the frame by four strain rods 114, and a high pressure'steam cylinder 115 similarly connected by four strain rods 116. Each cylinder is titted with a piston operated is controlled by an auxiliary slide valve. This structure is old and well known in the art and is not here illustrated in detail, but there is shown the rod 117 which operates the auxiliary slide valve of the low pressure steam cylin der 113 and the rod 118 which operates the auxiliary slide valve of the high pressure steam cylinder 115.

The hydraulic mechanism that cooperates with these steam cylinders comprises a low pressure cylinder 119 in which works the rod 120 from the steam cylinder 113. This rod is connected with a ram whichslides within the cylinder which in turn is connectcd to the press head 121 (Figure 8) which reciprocates in the press tunnel 55. A high pressure cylinder 122 is provided with a piston connected to the piston rod 12 actuated by the high pressure steam cylinder. The high and low pressure cylinders are connected by a pipe 12st connected to each of the cylinders as shown in Figure 10. A surge tank 125 is connected by a pipe 120 to the pipe 124, and a valve 127 which rests loosely on a valve seat l28'controls the passage of water "from the surge tank to the high and low pressure hydraulic cylinders. A stem 129 is arranged to reciprocate vertically beneath the. valve 128 and this stem passes thrt'iugh appropriate packing and terminates in cars 1530 between which is pivoted a roller 1511 which engages the upper cam surface of a slide member 132 operated as hereinafter described. A spring 133 surrounds the stem 129 and 'l'orces the roller into contact with the cam surface. The member 132 rcciprocates in a gruideway in a bracket member attached to the .valve casing as indicated in Figure 10.

\Vlien the parts are in the position shown in Figures 3 and 1, the slide valve in the low master in Figure 3, thus actuating the valve actuating gear of the charging device which then makes its movement. At the same time the rocking of the shaft 137 through the arm 141 moves the slide 132 to the Figure 1 position allowing the valve 126 to close.

As the charging .devlce new quakes its movementtogether with the member 94, the

roller 102 engaging the cam 101 will rock the lever 103 and release the arm- 108 which will be forced out by the spring 110, communieating movement to the link 1176 and thence to the link 172 whose lower end is in'engagement with the nut 170 on the valve rod 117. The movement communicated to the link 172 will be towards the right in Figure 4 and will move the valve controlling rod 117 in a direction to again begin the cycle of operations that has just been described.

The rod 50 which operates the charging boxes of the fibre tank and cinder tank and the measuring device for the liqu d binder,

extends'down as shown in Figure 3 and is operated by an appropriate moving part at the desired time.

Various other details of construction may be briefly mentioned. Thesteam cylinder 66 of the charging device is connected to the frame by four strain rods 177. Steam may be conducted to the high and low pressure steam cylinders through pipes 178 and 175), and the exhaust steam may be conducted away through a pipe 180. This exhaust steam will be sutiieient to heat the various steam jackets and pipes of the tanks and the press tunnel. A connection 181 may be placed in the pipe 12st for attachment of a pressure gage and safety valve if desired. Suitable packings and other common expedi'ents in use with mechanism of this general type maybe used as found necessary or desirable. I

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clear from the above, but it maybe briefly recapitulated as follows. The supply tanks will feed the material each time the charging device is operated, which Will be on each actuation of the press plunger, the material passing into the mixing tank where it is thoroughly agitated with the hot binder From the mixing tank the material passes into the feeding tank and thence into the compartments 56 and 51' of the charging device. Assuming that a charge is in position for pressing and that the parts are substantially in the position shown inl igure 3, the steam is then ,ad-

mittcd to the low pressure cylinder 113 and the ram travels forward performing the low pressure operation on the material. During this movement water passes from the surge tank into'the lo'w pressurc hydraulic cylinder through the valve 127 which is lifted from its seat by the water itself.

As soon as the roller 14'? comes into the depression 14 1 the shaft 148 is rocked through the link 151 communicates movement to the valve controlling rod 118 of the high pressure steam cylinder whereupon the high pressure piston comes into operation, and the valve 127 being closed, the pressure is transmitted through the Water in the rage and low pressure hydraulic cylinders to the press head or ram. Near the end of the pressing movement the lever 153 is rocked to reverse the valve of the high pressure cylinder, and at the same time the shaft 159 is rocked as the roller 158 drops into the depression 157. The rocking of this shaft through the connections 103 and 1% moves the rod 117 to reverse the valve of t e low pressure steam cytinder. At the same time the rocking or" the shaftj159 through the arm 16? moves the slide 132 to open the valve 126. The above mentioned movement of the rod 117 through the engagement of the nut 170 with the end 171 at. the link 1?? rocks the shaftt 17st and pulls on the ink 1.2 6

to move the member 106 to release the member 9st and thecharging device for move ment. At this time the roller 1S6 drops into the cam depression 135 and the rocking of shalt 137 through the arm 141 moves the slide 132 to allow the valve 126 to close.

he rocking of the shaft 137 also moves the link '83 to operate the valve mechanism of the steam cylinder for the press charging device and it moves C0 bring the compartment 5? (Figure 7) out of register with the press tunnel and the compartment containing material to be pressed into register with said tunnel. Meanwhile the compartment 5? moves into registry with the other opening 52 in the feed tank. This movement of the charging device, through the cam 101 will rock the lever 103 to release the member 107 which will he forced about its pivot 106 by the spring 110, thus pulling on the rod or link 176 and the link 1753 and thereby quickly movin" the valve rod ;1 2' to again initiate the cycle .of operations just described.

It will be. noted that the charging device makes a movei'nei'it in one direction only for each complete reciprocation the press rain, The completion or the return movement of the press ram initiates the movement of the charging device and the movement of the charging device in turn initiates thenext movement of the press ram. Cine compartment of the charging device is always being filled while the material in the other is being forced out by the press ram.

Obviously many details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the inveution."and it is to he understood that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A press comprising a plurality of confor intermittently conveying measured quancities of the materials into the mixing tank,

' a feeding tank communicating with the mining tankand having a plurality of feeding openings therein, and a charging device having a plurality ot compartments which alternately register vvith'corresphnding openings.

2. A press comprising a plurality of containers for materials, a mixing tank, means for intermittently conveying measured quantities of the materials into the mixing tank, a feeding tank communicating with the mixing tank and having a plurality of feeding openings in its bottom, and a reciprocating charging device having a plurality of compartments which alternately register with corresponding openings.

3. A press comprising a plurality of con tainers for materials, a mixing tank, means for intermittently conveying measured quantities of the materials into the mixing tank, a feed tank communicating With the mixing tank and having two feeding openings in its bottom, a press tunnel, and a reciprocating charging device having two compartments each of Which alternately registers with one of said openings and with the press tunnel.

4. A press comprising a feeding tank having feeding openings in its bottom and a central cylindrical portion, a conduit for spacing blocks passing through said cylindrical portion, and a reciprocating charging device having compartments alternately registering with said feeding openings.

5. A press comprising a feeding tank having an annular form and two feeding openings in its bottom, a conduit for spacing hloclrs passing down through the center of the feeding tank and delivering said blocks between alternate bricks, a press tunnel, and a reciprocating. charging device having two compartments, each of which a ternately registers with one of said openings and with the press tunnel.

6. A press comprising a feeding tank having two delivery openings, a press tunnel, and a reciprocating charging device having two compartments each of which alternatcly registers With one of said openings and With the press tunnel.

7. A press comprising a feeding tank, a charging device receiving material tl1erefrom and oscillating in a tunnel and a press head oscillating in a tunnel at an angle to the first tunnel.

8. A press comprising a press tunnel and a tunnel for a charging device intersecting at an angle, means for oscillating a. charging device in its tunnel and means for OSClllating a press head in the press tunnel.

9. A press comprising a press tunnel and a tunnel for a charging device intersecting osers:

at right angles, means for giving a charging device intermittent movement in one tunnel and means for giving a press head intermittent movement in the other tunnel.

10. A press comprising a press tunnel, a press head reciprocating therein, a charging device, a tunnel in which it reciprocates, the two tunnels intersecting at right angles, and

means for giving the press head and charging device alternate movements in their respective tunnels.

11. A press comprising a press tunnel, a press head reciprocating therein, a charging device having two compartments, a tunnel in Which it reciprocates, the two tunnels intersecling, and means for giving the press head a complete reciprocation i'orcach movement in one direction oi the charging device.

12. A press comprising a reciprocating press head, a reciprocating charging device having two compartments for material to be pressed, the lines of movement of the press head and charging device ntersecting, and means for giving the press cad a complete reciprocation for each movement in one dirccu'ion of the charging device.

13. A press comprising a charging means "for moving the charging device, means for locking said device at the end oil a movement-in either direction, and means for autonmtically releasing said locking means.

14. A press comprising a charging device, a press head, means for moving the charging device, means for locking said device at the end of a movement in either direction, and means for releasing said locking means by the return movement of the press head.

15. A press comprising a charging device, means for moving the same, means for locking the same at the end of a movementin either direction, and means travelling with the charging. device to bring the locking means into play.

16. A press comprising a charging device, means for moving the same, means for lock ing the same at the end oi its movement, and cam operated means travelling with the charging device to bring the locking means into play.

17. A press comprising a charging device, moans l'or moving the same, means for lociing the same at the end oi" its movement, a dctcnt for holding the locking means out or" action, and means for moving said detcnt to permit the locking men to become cili'ective.

18. A press cmnprising'a charging device, means for moving the same, means for locking the same at the end of its movement, a detent for holding the locking means out of action, and cam moans travelling with said charging device to release the dcl'entto pcrmit the locking means to become citective.

device,

weaver 19. A press comprising a charging device, means for moving the same, means for locking the same atthe end of its movement, a spring for moving the locking means in one direction, and means for positively moving it in the other direction.

:20. A press comprising a charging device, a press head, means for moving the charging device alternately in opposite directions, means for locking it at the end of a movement in either direction, means for moving.

the press head, and means operated by the return movement of the press head for releasing said locking means and causing the charging device moving means to operate.

21. 'A press comprising a press head, means for reciprocating the sa1ne,-a charging device, means for moving the latter in one direction only for each complete reciprocation of the press head, means for locking the charging device atthe end of each movementthereof, means for bringing the locking means into play by movement of the charg-v ing device itself, and means for unlocking the locking means by the return movement of the press head.

22. A press comprising a press head, means for reciprocating the same, a charging device, means for moving the latter in one direction only for each complete reciprocation of the pre s head, meanstor lockin;- the charging device at. the end of each movement, means for unlocking the locking means by the return movement of the press head, and means 'l u'.initiat ing the next movement of the charging device. I

23. A press con'iprising a press head, a low pressure steam cylinder for moving the head through a portion of its stroke, a high pres sure steam cylinder for moving it through the remainder of the strolrmanoans actuated by the movement of the head nndert-he-prcssure of the low pressure cylinder for initiating the operation of the .high pressure cylinder, and means operated at the end of the high pressure stroke for reversing the movement of both high and low pressure cylinders.

Q 1. A press cou'iprising a press head. a low pressure steam cylinder, a high pressure stean'i cylinder, :1 low pressure hydraulic cylinder, :1 high pressure hydraulic cylinder. a pipe connecting thc two cylinders. a surg -o tank connccicd to said pipe, a valve controlling passage of lluid betwcen'lhesurge tank nd hydraulic. cylinders. and means for ppcninn said valve. at the ud ot the opcrativo stroke of thc prc head.

25. A press wimprising a press luaHl, high and low pressure incans operating thereon. means for initiating the movement by the low pressure, means ior conlinuinglhe movement by the high pre sure, and cam controlled means for reversing the high and low stroke of the press head.

26. A press compr smg a. press head, highand low pressures hydraulic cylinders, a communieation between the two, a surge 1 tank connected to said communication, a valve for C0lli310lll1l" the passage of fluid to and-from the sur e tank and hydraulic cylinders, and means or opening said valve at the terrornation of the operative movement of the press head.

27. A press comprising a press head, high and low pressure hydraulic cylinders, a communication between the two, a surge tank connected to said communication, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid to and from the surge tank and hydraulic cylinders, means for opening said valve at the termination of the operative movement of the press head, and means for closing said valve at'the termination "of the return movement of the press head.

28. A press comprising a. press head, high and low pressure hydraulic cylinders, a communication between the two, a surge tank.

connectcdto said communication, a' valve for controlling the passage of fluid between the surgev tank and the cylinders, a movable stem underlying said valve and adapted to move the same from its seat, a slidable member adjacent the other end of the stem and -mcansoperated 'at the termination of the movement of the press head in each direction for operating said slidable member.

29. A press comprising high and low pressure steam cylinders. cross heads movable thereby, means operated by the outward movement of the cross head associated with the low pressure steam cylinder for'bringing the high pressure steam cylinder into operation, and means operated by the outward movement of the other cross head forreversing the low pressure cylinder.

30. Aprcss comprising high and low pressure steam cylinders, cross heads movable thereby, means operated by the outward movement of the cross head associated with the, low prc" team cylinder for bringing the highprc. re steam cylinder into operalion. and means operated by the outward FRANCIS n. STEVENSON.

ieo 

